Wicked fan reviews: Emotional viewers left in tears after moving scene in Ariana Grande movie: ‘I was SOBBING!’
Wicked has finally flown into cinemas with fans describing the highly anticipated first episode as ‘incredible’ and calling for Oscar nods for stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo.
An adaptation of the hit musical and a prequel to The Wizard Of Oz, the film tells the untold story of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda, the Good Witch of the South.
One emotional scene in particular has had quite an impact on the audience, leaving them ‘sobbing’ and ‘heartbroken’.
As Elphaba (Cynthia) breaks down in the Ozdust Ballroom after being isolated due to her green skin and tears run down her face, former enemy Glinda (Ariana) takes her head in her hands in what marks the beginning of their solid friendship.
Racing to emotional fans gushed: ‘This scene made me cry’: ‘I was sobbing’: ‘This scene is so sad’: ‘This broke me’: ‘I will never be the same’: ‘Ugh , they made me tear up they ate this so bad I want part 2 NOW.”
Wicked has finally hit theaters, with fans describing the big musical’s film adaptation as “incredible” and calling for Oscar nods for stars Ariana Grande (R) and Cynthia Erivo (L)
One emotional scene in particular (pictured) had quite an impact on the audience, leaving them ‘sobbing’ and ‘heartbroken’
While others wrote of the film: ‘Wicked is such an incredible adaptation from stage to screen. Ariana, Cynthia Jeff [Goldblum] Michelle [Yeoh] and everyone else was absolutely amazing in it. I’ll see it again and probably cry again. Just a beautiful film’.
‘Ariana was absolutely incredible in Wicked, as a fan of hers I couldn’t be more proud of her’: ‘Defying Gravity in Wicked left me at a loss for words. Cynthia was absolutely incredible’: ‘Yall, I’m still so shocked as…Cynthia, Ariana and Jonathan [Bailey] are so incredible that I can’t wait for Wicked part 2’.
‘Bad Reaction: Like a Julie Andrews in Mary Poppins, Barbra Streisand in Funny Girl, or Jennifer Hudson in Dreamgirls – Ariana proves that trained singers can ace an acting role. her comedic timing had my theater rolling out of their seats. that Oscar MUST be hers’.
‘I would like to say that Ariana got her Oscar nomination for No One Mourns the Wicked and then secured her win in the Ozdust Ballroom scene’: ‘Hope Cynthia gets an Oscar for Wicked. EGOT is coming’.
“Just finished watching Wicked.. oh Ariana Grande, that Oscar is yours.. Cynthia Erivo, that Oscar is yours.. Jon Chu, you are a BRILLIANT man. my heart is so complete’.
Meanwhile, critics for the most part praise the performances of the leads, but while some reviews have labeled the film a “fantastic spectacle,” others have stated, “It doesn’t come close to defying gravity.”
The Guardian’Peter Bradshaw described it as a “sugar rush fantasy with the overwhelming star presence of Cynthia Erivo; it basically immerses you face down in a hyper-realistic ball pit full of M&Ms for two and three-quarters of an hour.”
He praised Cynthia’s performance, adding, “Erivo’s charismatic Elphaba exerts a planetary pull on a star-studded cast.”
As Elphaba (Cynthia) breaks down in the Ozdust Ballroom after being isolated due to her green skin and tears run down her cheeks, former enemy Glinda (Ariana) takes her head in her hands
Racing to emotional fans flowed: ‘This scene made me cry’: ‘I WAS sobbing’: ‘This scene is so sad’: ‘This broke me’: ‘I will never be the same’
Brian Viner of The Ny Breaking writes: ‘It’s a fantastic spectacle, begging to be seen on the biggest screen possible.’
He was a big fan of the casting choice, adding, “Erivo and Grande are both perfect and downright sensational.
‘I must confess that I find Wicked’s songs a bit repetitive, but it’s hard to imagine anyone could deliver them better than these two, while Grande has quite the comedic flair, which she brings out every time Glinda plays her throws luscious locks.
“Yeoh, Bailey and Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard provide great support.”
Peter Debruge van Variety praised: ‘Unlike several recent tuners, who tried to hide their musical dimension from the public, Wicked embraces its identity like Elphaba does her emerald green skin.
“It turns out that such trust makes a difference in how they are perceived.”
Dave Fear of Rolling stone wrote: ‘When Erivo captures that moment and rides into the history books of Oz on a broomstick, you feel for a split second that there’s no place you’d rather be than riding next to her. Not even at home.’ as he added: ‘Erivo is the one who really defies gravity’
In the meantime The independent praised Ariana and Cynthia’s performances, but felt the pair were let down by the film’s actual cinematography.
An adaptation of the hit musical and a prequel to The Wizard Of Oz, the film tells the untold story of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda, the Good Witch.
While others wrote of the film: ‘Wicked is such an incredible adaptation from stage to screen. Ariana, Cynthia Jeff [Goldblum] Michelle [Yeoh] and everyone else was absolutely wonderful
‘He played us a few songs and we sang together for the first time. It worked. It was one of the most satisfying things to know that there was someone who was so open and available, because she was too, and that meant I could be too.
‘We also had a beautiful relationship off screen.’
Clarisse Loughrey compared the way the film was shot to a TV advertisement: “Wicked is shot and lit as if we were being sold an Airbnb in Mykonos.”
Clarisse admitted that Cynthia “hits those infamous high notes on Defying Gravity” and also wrote that despite its length and only part one of the story, the film doesn’t feel rushed.
But she concludes: ‘Wicked will have to dream bigger and brighter, or it may fade away entirely under the spell of a classic.’
The Telegraph gave the film a scathing review as they claimed that the film’s leading actresses “don’t come close to defying gravity in this bloated, beige film adaptation of the Wizard of Oz prequel”.
Robbie Collin writes that “casting the leads doesn’t feel comfortable,” describing Cynthia as playing a “wet-eyed role that lends a grimly medicinal quality to the film’s more emotional passages.”
Wicked is now in theaters.